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    Dear Sergeant Honey Part II Don't Worry Until I Tell You To
    Dear Sergeant Honey Part II Don't Worry Until I Tell You To
    Dear Sergeant Honey Part II Don't Worry Until I Tell You To
    Ebook67 pages1 hour

    Dear Sergeant Honey Part II Don't Worry Until I Tell You To

    By Ceil Stetson

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    About this ebook

    Review by Claudia Pemberton for the Military Writers Society of America

    It's not often that a reader is privy to the intimate writings of an individual's diary and/or personal letters, but on the rare occasion that they are, it can make for a reading experience like none other. Such is the case of Dear Sergeant Honey.
    Unlike an autobiography, this compilation of diary entries and letters offers a glimpse into a past that is neither embellished nor retold by way of an imperfect memory. It is told in perfect recollection on a day by day basis.
    Dear Sergeant Honey is an impressive and rare collection of a personal accout of World War II as told by a woman who actually lived it. Staff Sergeant Hildegarde Molnar, a member of the Women's Army Corps during World War II brings us along on her distinguished and unique military (and personal) journey from basic training in February, 1943, to her return home in September of 1945, with stops everywhere in between.
    While stationed in England, Hildegarde meets her husband to be, Staff Sergeant Grandon Scott. Grandon was also serving in the Air Force at the time. Since both of them were ranked as sergeants, they would begin their letters to one another with the greeting, "Dear Sergeant Honey." Their catchy salutation now serves as the perfect title for Hildegarde's memoir.
    Hildegarde was one of an elite group of women soldiers who was permitted to wear combat ribbons for her involvement in the war. Also for her "Meritorious service in direct support of military operations," Staff Sergeant Hildegarde Molnar was awared the prestigious Bronze Star Medal. After her passing in 2001 at the age of 86, her daughter, Ceil Stetson, discovered the treasury of letters and diary entries and compiled them for publication.
    The book, although serious in context, has some humorous moments intermingled with the touching and somber recounting of a world war with intricate details as told from a rare perspective at the time. . a female soldier's perspective. WW II buffs will find Dear Sergeant Honey fascinating; historians will find it enlightening; women will find it empowering; and soldiers will find it authentic.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCeil Stetson
    Release dateJan 11, 2013
    ISBN9781301577705
    Dear Sergeant Honey Part II Don't Worry Until I Tell You To
    Author

    Ceil Stetson

    The photo is of my mother, the actual author of this book. I am merely the editor. We are full time RVers. We participate in the Author's Fair at Reader's Oasis Bookstore in Quartzsite, Arizona in January and February. Stop by and visit.

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      Book preview

      Dear Sergeant Honey Part II Don't Worry Until I Tell You To - Ceil Stetson

      Excerpts of Review by Claudia Pemberton of the Military Writers Society of America

      It's not often that a reader is privy to the intimate writings of an individual's diary and/or personal letters, but on the rare occasion that they are, it can make for a reading experience like none other. Such is the case of Dear Sergeant Honey.

      While stationed in England, Hildegarde meets her husband to be, Staff Sergeant Grandon Scott. Since both of them were ranked as sergeants, they would begin their letters to one another with the greeting, Dear Sergeant Honey. Their catchy salutation now serves as the perfect title for Hildegarde's memoir.

      WW II buffs will find Dear Sergeant Honey fascinating; historians will find it enlightening; women will find it empowering; and soldiers will find it authentic. (Editor's Note: Complete review on web page)

      Dear Sergeant Honey

      Part II Don't Worry Until I Tell You To

      by

      Ceil Stetson

      Published by Ceil Stetson at Smashwords

      Copyright 2013 by Ceil Stetson

      http://www.dearsergeanthoney.com

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      Smashwords License Statement

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment. This ebook may not be reproduced, copied or distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people.

      Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      ~~~~~~~~~~~

      INTRODUCTION

      My mother is the author of this book, I am merely the editor of her words. Everything is true, just as she wrote it during her military service in World War II. I have edited some diary entries and letters for brevity but never added to her words. I did put the locations on her diary entries.

      This is not an interview after the fact. This is true history written as things happened. She wrote in her diary every day. She wrote voluminous letters home full of detail. I had no idea she kept all her papers from World War II until after she passed away in 2001. I discovered her World War II souvenirs, letters, diaries, programs, newspaper clippings, medals, and photographs. I spent several years assembling and putting her letters and diary entries into the computer. There is a print edition available also.

      The book is in four parts and will be published as four separate ebooks:

      Part I is The Basics and covers basic training at Daytona Beach, FL, Camp Polk, LA, Ft. Devens, MA, and Camp Shanks, NY, from February 1943 to July 1943, published January 2, 2013 on Smashwords.

      Part II is Don't Worry Until I Tell You To and covers at sea to England, Earls Colne Airfield and Marks Hall where she was attached to the 3rd Bombardment Division (M). The dates for this part are July 1943 to December 1943.

      Part III is Dear Sergeant Honey and covers Marks Hall; Chartres, France; Reims, France, from December 1943 to December 1944.

      Part IV is The Greatest Generation Goes Home and covers Reims, France; Namur, Belgium, Camp Beale, CA, from December 1944 to September 1945.

      Please visit my website at http://www.dearsergeanthoney.com. There are pictures and a lot of information about her and and the WACS. There is an ebook page especially for pictures mentioned in this ebook. There is also A Cast of Characters to help you get to know the people mentioned in her letters and diary entries. You can contact me through the website. I would love to hear from you.

      ~~~~~~~~~~~

      Diary Wednesday, July 7, 1943. Camp Shanks. Got up early, finished packing, went to Mass. Had coffee after church, worked some on jigsaw puzzles. Got letters. Packed. Marched out at 8:30. On train to ferry. Marched down the pier to the music of a band. Boarded ship. Drew an upper in 6-bed cabin. 5 M's in our cabin. (Editor's Note: In reply to my question of, How were you affected by actual warfare? she replied by letter in 1990: "While we were at the port of embarkation we were told we would be sailing in a convoy escorted by ships of the U.S. Navy. When we sailed on July 8, we realized we were all alone at sea. We were told that our ship, the Aquitania, was considered fast enough to outrun submarines and therefore traveled unescorted. It took eight days to make the crossing from New York to Scotland, and it took that long because we took a devious route. We learned that we had made a big U going south and then across the Atlantic and north and that way the ship avoided the main shipping lanes.")

      Diary Entries July 8-14, 1943. At sea. Saw Statue of Liberty fading in distance. They're considering us women not troops. Talking to fellows through porthole. Made date by sign language with lookout in gun turret. Correspondent Doris Fleeson spoke. Think she's writing a story for the Women's Home Companion. Went to Mass several times and had guard duty. Took hot salt water baths.

      Diary July 15, 1943. At sea. Slept through alarm so didn't go to church. Up on deck. Misty. Saw first glimpse of land and also several ships. Spitfires flying around. In afternoon got into the Firth of Clyde. English crewman let me use binoculars. Saw houses and green hills. Anchored about 5:00. Beautiful harbor. (Editor's Note: This was Gourock, Scotland).

      Diary Friday, July 16, 1943. Up at 5:00. Cleaned room. Packed musette bag. Had breakfast. We marched off the ship at 7:45 into little boats that took us to the dock. We're happy. (Editor's Note: They were the first WAC battalion to be assigned to the European Theater of Operations, the ETO. Scan of Stars and Stripes article on web page. Go to ebook tab, Part II photo #5.)

      ). Marched onto train in columns of three. Passed through Scotland, enchanting scenery.

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